Machine for cutting leather.



W. G, STEWART.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING LEATHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Z BHEBTS-SHBET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPN 00-. WASHINDTON. D. c.

W. O. STEWART.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING LEATHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1909.

1,030,621 Patented June 25, 1912.

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WILLIAM C. STEWART, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING LEATHER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IVILLIAM C. STEWART, asubject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Lynn, in the county ofEssex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inMachines for Cutting Leather, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likeletters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to machines forcutting thin sheet material, and more particularly leather for use inthe manufacture of boots and shoes.

The aims and purposes of the present invent-ion are to provide a machineof the above general character, which will be simple in construction,efficient in operation, and wherein the parts or elements are soassociated and combined that the proper cutting operations andinspection of the sheet material may be conveniently and rapidlyperformed, all of which will more fully ap pear hereinafter.

In the following description and accompanying drawings, one form orembodiment of the invention is set forth with sufficient particularityto enable one skilled in the art to construct and use the same, it beingunderstood that the invention in its true scope is defined in theclaims.

In the drawings :F igure 1 is a side view of a machine embodying thepresent invention; Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig. 1, with partsbroken away; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 1; F ig. 4 is asection on an enlarged scale on the line 4-4, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detailpartly in side elevation and with some of the elements broken awayshowing the means for turning the presser automatically into inoperativeposition; and Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on the line 66, Fig. 1.

he supporting frame of suitable character may consist of a base 1 fromwhich rises a column 2 provided with supporting arms3, 4. The cuttingbed 5 may be formed of any suitable material but preferably as a woodenblock sustained by a supporting table 6, the lower cylindrical portionof Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 8, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Serial No. 526,760.

which may pass through a suitable bearing in the'arni 3. The cylindricalportion may be secured in the arm 3 by bolts 7, said arm 3 beingpreferably split to permit the bolts 7 to tighten the bearing of the arm3 upon the cylindrical portion of the table.

Extending downward from the cylindrical portion 8 is the threaded stem9, the lower part of which projects into a boss or hearing. Seated uponthe top of the boss or bearing 10 is a nut 11 interiorly threaded toengage the exterior threads on the stem 9, the construction being suchthat upon manipulation of the hand wheel 12 connected to the nut 11, thetable 6 and perforce the cutting block 5, may be raised or lowered, thebolts 7 being first loosened.

Mounted in suitable bearings in the 1nachine frame is the main shaft 13carrying a loose driving member which may be operated by suitableconnections with a source of power, a clutch of any well known formbeing provided, to operatively connect the driving member and shaft, asdesired. In the machine illustrated the driving member 15 isconveniently made as a belt pulley, another belt pulley 14 beingemployed, if clesired, so that when the belt is on the pulley 14 themachine cannot be operated even though the clutch be thrown into action;

The clutch may be of any usual and well known type, such for instance asdescribed in application, Ser. No. 473,955, filed January 25, 1909, orotherwise. As typical of one convenient form of this clutch, the shaft 3has fixed thereto a sleeve 16, Fig. 3, in which slides a pin 17, Figs. 1and 3, said pin being norm ally under the control of a spring acting toforce the pin longitudinally into engagement wit-h a hole or recess inthe belt pulley 15. Projecting from the pin 17 is a lug 19 adapted toride over the cam or inclined end of a lever 20 pivoted at 21 towithdraw the pin from engagement with the pulley 15, as said pincompletes a revolution with the shaft 13, thus disconnecting the shaft13 and the driving means, substantially as described in said priorapplication. The lever 20 is connected by a link 22 to one arm of atreadle lever 23 pivoted at 24 and jointed at 25 to a rod 26 controlledby the treadle 27, the construction being such that by depressing thetreadle the end .of the lever 20 will be lifted to permit the pin 17 tomove into clutching engagement with the pulley 15, and by removing thefoot from the treadle the end of the lever will drop into the path ofthe lug 19 and as the shaft completes its rotation the pin 17 will bewithdrawn from clutching engagement with the pulley 15, therebypermitting the shaft to come to rest. If desired, the shaft may bepositively or frictionally arrested after the withdrawal of the pin 17,but as such means is well known and not of the present invention it isnot herein further described.

The shaft 13 at its inner part is provided with an eccentric portion orpin 28, Figs. 1 and 2, which is embraced by one end of a link 29, theother end ofsaid link being jointed at 30 to the lower end of a presseroperating spindle 31. Surrounding the spindle 31 is a presser column 32,preferably formed hollow, as shown in Fig. 2, said column beingrotatable about the spindle 31 but confined for longitudinal movementtherewith. As one form of means for thus supporting and associating thepresser column 32 with relation to the spindle, the latter, Fig. 2, isprovided with a shoulder 33 carrying one member of an anti-frictionbearing 34, the other member of said bearing being secured to the column32 and closely embracing the spindle 31, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2.At or near its upper end the spindle 31 is screw-threaded and a cap 35interiorly screw-threaded and having a fiange'36 bearing on the top ofthe column 32 confines the column on the spindle 31 so as to move up anddown therewith while free to swing or turn there-on. Check nuts 37 maybe employed to lock the parts in the position indicated by Fig. 2.Secured to the presser column 32 is the presser arm 38, which may beclamped to the column by the clamp screws 39 indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 1, the said presser arm having a face portion 40, which, uponvertical movement of the spindle 31 and column 32, is adapted to actupon a die or cutter 41 placed upon the sheet material previously placedupon the cutting block 5.

From the construction described it will be noted that the presser armmay be swung into dotted line position, Fig. 1,.0ver the die or cutter41, and by tripping the treadle, the presser arm may be caused to make asudden downward'movement to force the die or cutter through the sheetmaterial on the cutting block, said arm then rising and coming torest'in raised position.

It is important that the operator may be able to place the die or cutteron an appropriate part of the leather skin being out, it being wellknown that different parts of a fits and slides a key 43, said key beingsecured to the sleeves 44 and 45 surrounding the column 32 and supportedby and movable on the supporting collar 46 secured by suitable means, asthe bolt 47, Fig. 4, to the frame 2 of the machine, the constructionbeing such that the sleeves 44 and 45 may rotate with the column 32 butare held from rising and falling movement therewith by the collar 46 andthe lower port-ion of the bearing 48 projecting from the supportingframe. The sleeves 44 and 45 are connected together by a pin or otherfastener 49, Fig. 5, and are provided with two series of ratchet teeth50 and 51. These ratchet teeth are best indicated in Figs. 4 and 5,those, 51, on the upper sleeve 44 facing in one direction, as indicatedin Fig, 4, and those, 50, on the lower sleeve 45 facing in an oppositedirection. The sleeves 44 and 45 are provided with bearings for pawlcarrying rings 52 and 53, each of said pawl carrying rings beingprovided with a projection 54 to which is pivoted at 55 a pawl 56, thepawl on one ring facing in one direction, and the pawl on the other ringfacing in the opposite direction. These pawls are normally under theinfluence of suitablesprings, as 57, tending to throw said pawls towardthe periphery of the pawl carrying rings. Each of the pawl carryingrings is further provided with a projecting lug 58, Figs. 4 and 5, whichare suitably connected by links 59 to an actuating lever 60, said linksbeing connected to the actuating lever 60 at 61. The actuating lever 60is mount-ed on a pin 62 extending upward from the machine frame and isfixedly connected to a lever 63 carrying an interiorly threaded pin 64which is engaged by the exterior threads 65 on an adjusting rod 66. Therod 66 passes at its opposite end through a guiding stud 67 suitablysupported by the machine frame, constituting a rocking guide for the endof the adjusting rod 66. Disposed between a shoulder on the guiding stud67 and a collar 68 secured to the rod 66 is a spring 69 normally actingto move the lever 63 and perforce the actuating lever 60 to the right,Fig. 4, and draw the lugs 58 toward each other. 7

From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that ifeither one of the pawls 56 be brought into engagement with 45, as willbe readily understood.

its cooperating ratchet teeth, it will cause the sleeve 44 or 45carrying such ratchet teeth to be turned, and, owing to the connectionbetween such sleeve and the presser column 82, said column 82 willlikewise be turned, such turning movement being due to the expansiveforce of the spring 69. As one means of bringing the pawls intocooperative relation with their ratchet teeth, the shaft 13 is providedwith a cam 7 0, Figs. 1 and 4, the surface whereof is adapted to engagea roller 71 mounted on the lever 63, the construction being such thatupon movement of the roller 71 and its associated parts to the left,Fig. 4, the pawl carrying rings 52 and 53 will be rotated in oppositedirec tions about the presser column, and one or the other of said pawlswill be brought into engagement with its ratchet teeth by reason of thepresser arm having been swung to position over the cutting bed, suchswinging movement of the presser arm carrying with it the ratchetcarrying sleeves 44 and.

Upon release of the presser arm, under the conditions mentioned, thespring 69 having been compressed, and a high part of the cam 7 0 havingpassed from engagement with the roller 71, the presser arm will be swungto one side of the cutting bed. In order that both of the pawls 56 maynot be simultaneously engaged, each with its respective ratchet teeth,it i will be noted that such ratchet teeth extend over only a portion ofeach of the sleeves 44 and 45, such portion being less than the distancebetween the acting ends of the two pawls, when said pawls are in theirclosest position relatively. In order that the presser arm may not beswung into such position as that neither of the pawls 56 will be inengagement with its coacting ratchet teeth, the presser column 82 isprovided with a beveled piece 7 2, Fig. 6, which, when said column ismoved into the position stated, will be brought in contact with acorresponding beveled piece 73 carried by a spring arm 74 secured at 75to the machine column, the construction being such that should thepresser arm be moved into such central or dead position that neither ofthe pawls 56 would be in coacting relation with the end tooth of itsseries, the coacting beveled pieces 72 and 73 will give slight rotativemovement to the presser column to cause one or the other of the pawls 56to come into coacting relation with its ratchet teeth.

From the construction hereinbefore described it will be apparent thatthe presser arm may be swung by hand into operative posit-ion above thecutting block, and that, upon depression of the treadle, the pawlcarrying rings will be rotated about the presser column to bring one orthe other of said pawls into coacting relation with its appropriateteeth carried by one of the sleeves 44 or 45, the spring 69 being placedunder tension during such movement by the cam 70, so that upon releaseofthe presser arm by the operator, such arm will swing either to theright or to the left from position over the cutting block dependent uponwhich of the pawls 56 is for the time being in engagement with itscoacting ratchet teeth. In order that the pawls may be each removed fromits cooperative relation with its ratchet teeth at the end of itsmovement for swinging the presser arm to the right or left, there isprovided a trip 76, Figs. 4 and 5, each of said trips beingappropriately secured to the collar 46 or other stationary part and eachhaving a beveled upper face 77 to coact with a pin 78 projecting fromeach of said pawls, the construction being such that as said pawls aremoved by the spring 69 into their initial position and turn the presserarm to the right or left, each is tripped from its coacting ratchetteeth by the trips 76, thus leaving the presser column and presser armfree to be again moved by the operator into operative position above thecutting block.

It will be noted from the construction described that the presser arm isnormally free to be swung in any direction desired when the machine isinactive, and that when the machine is operated said arm is passed underthe control of a spring or suitable yielding means for moving saidpresser arm into inoperative position, and that the ten-' sion of thespring for thus moving the presser arm is produced by the operation ofthe machine itself. It will be noted further that the same amount oftension is put upon the spring at each operation of the machine and thattherefore the moving force imparted to the presser member after thedying-out operation is always the same. In view of the considerableinertia of the parts to be moved, the use of a spring or other yieldingmeans to efiect the lateral movement of the presser member intoinoperative position is important, the moving force being thus appliedto the presser member gradually. Breakage of the parts which mightresult from positive connection of the moving means with the source ofpower from which the machine is operated is thus avoided.

Obviously various changes may be made in the particular means forcarrying the in vention into practical effect, and it is to beunderstood that applicant does not regard himself as limited to themeans herein shown and described as one form of the present invention,which in its true scope is clearly defined by the claims.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a bedand a presser member freely movable into operative position over thebed, of means for automatically moving the presser member toward thenearer side of the bed into inop 1 erative position.

' 2. In a machine for dying out sheet ma terial, the combination of abed, a presser member freely movable to operative position over the bed,and means for automatically moving the presser member toward the nearerside of the bed into inoperative position.

3. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination of a bed,a presser member freely movable to operative position over the bed, andmeans made operative during the dying out operation for automaticallymoving the presser member toward the nearer side of the bed intoinoperative position.

4. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, thecombination with a cutting bed and a presser member freely movablelaterally over said bed into operative position, of means forautomatically moving thepresser member laterally into inoperativeposition constructed and arranged to store uppower from the source fromwhich the machine is operated and to apply said power gradually ineffecting said lateral movement.

5. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, thecombination with a cutting bed and a presser member freely movablelaterally over said bed into operative position, of means forautomatically moving the presser member laterally into inoperativeposition arranged to be put into opera tive condition through temporaryconnections with the power by which the machine is operated andconstructed to operate beyond the time when said connections areinterrupted.

6. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, thecombination of a cutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterallyover said bed into operative position, and spring operated meanspermitted to act upon the presser member only after the dying outoperation is completed for moving the presser member laterally intoinoperative position.

7. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with a bedand a presser member freely movable over the bed into various selectedoperative relations thereto, of spring operated means for moving thepresser member into inoperative position tensioned during the dying outoperation and permitted to act upon the presser member only after thedying out operation is completed.

8. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with abed, of a into different operative positions and spring operated meansfor moving the presser member into inoperative position tensioned fromthe source of power by which the machine is operated and permitted toact upon the presser member only after the dying out operation iscompleted.

9. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with acutting bed and a presser member freely movable over said bed intooperative position, of spring operated means rendered operative as thedying out operation is completed for moving said member over the bedinto inoperative position, and means for disconnecting said moving meansfrom said member as said member comes into inoperative posi tion.

10. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, thecombination with a cutting bed, a presser member freely movablelaterally over said bed into operative posi tion and mechanism formoving said presser member toward and away from said bed to effect acutting operation, of automatic ieans for moving the presser memberlaterally into inoperative position, and connec tions between said meansand said mechanism constructed to permit said means to act upon thepresser member only after the cutting operation is completed, said meansbeing independent of the source of power at the time when it ispermitted to act.

11. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, thecombination with a bed and a presser member freely movable over said bedinto operative position, of automatic means for moving the pressermember over said bed into inoperative position comprising a springarranged to be tensioned during the dying out operation from the sourceof power from which the machine is operated, and means for effecting aconnection between said spring and said presser member as the dying outoperation is completed.

1-2. In a machine for dying out leather for boots and shoes, thecombination of a cutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterallyover said bed into operative position, normally inoperative springoperated means for moving the presser member laterally into inoperativeposition, and devices for rendering said means operative when thepresser member is in operative position with respect to the bed, theoperation of said means being independent of the amount of or speed ofthe initial movement of said presser member.

13. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with acutting bed and a presser member freely movable over said bed intooperative position, of yielding presser member freely movable over thebed means for applying to said presser member a predetermined amount offorce to move said member automatically into inoperative position.

14:. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with acutting bed and a presser member freely movable over said bed intooperative position, of means for moving the presser member automaticallyinto inoperative position constructed and arranged to apply yieldinglyto said presser member the same amount of moving force at eachoperation.

15. In a machine for dying out leather, the combination of a bed, apresser member, means to move the presser member toward and from the bedto press upon the die or cutter, a spring to move the presser memberlaterally into inoperative position, and means for imparting to thespring a predetermined tension during the dying out operation.

16. In a machine for dying out leather, the combination of a bed, apresser member, means to move the presser member toward and from the bedto press upon the die or cutter, and spring actuated means for movingthe presser member laterally in either direction into inoperativeposition constructed to impart to said presser member the same amount ofmoving force for each operation.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally into operativeposition with relation to said bed, a spring forreturning the pressermember laterally to inoperative position, and means operated from thesource of power during the dying out operation for tensioning saidspring and operatively connecting it with said presser member.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally into operativeposition with relation to said bed, a shaft, connections between saidshaft and presser member for moving it toward and from the bed,'andspring operated means controlled from said shaft for automaticallymoving the presser member laterally into inoperative position.

19. In a machine of the character de' scribed, the combination of acutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally into operativeposition with relation to said bed, a shaft, connections between theshaft and presser member for moving the presser member toward and fromthe bed, means normally inoperative with relation to the presser memberfor moving it laterally into inoperative position, and devicescont-rolled from said shaft for rendering said means operative withrelation to said presser member to effect said lateral movement toinoperative position, said means when operative being independent ofsaid shaft.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acutting bed, a presser member freely movable laterally into operativeposition with relation to said bed, and means including ratchet and pawlmechanism for movingthe presser member laterally into inoperativeposition.

21. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with acutting bed and a presser member freely movable over said bed intodifferent operative relations thereto, of spring operated means formoving the presser member laterally into inoperative position, and meansincluding ratchet and pawl mechanism for connecting said spring operatedmeans to said presser member.

22. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with abed and a presser member freely movable over the bed into differentoperative relations thereto, of means for moving the presser memberlaterally into inoperative position, and means for connecting saidmoving means to said presser member including a ratchet and pawlmechanism for effecting such connection when the member is to be movedin one direction and a second ratchet and pawl mechanism for efliectingsuch connection when the member is to be moved in the other direction.

23. In a machine for dying out sheet material, the combination with abed and a presser member freely movable over the bed into differentoperative relations thereto, of spring operated means for moving thepresser member laterally into inoperative position tensio'ned during the'dying out operation, and means including pawl and ratchet mechanism forconnecting said spring operated means to said presser memher as thedying out operation is completed.

24. In a machine for dying out leather, the combination of a supportingframe, a shaft mounted thereon, a cutting bed, a spindle, connectionsbetween the spindle and. shaft for moving the spindle vertically, apresser column surrounding said spindle, collars on said spindle at topand bottom thereof between which the presser column is confined to causesaid column to move vertically with and permit rotative movement on saidspindle, and a presser arm carried by the presser column.

25. In a machine for dying out leather, the combination of a supportingframe, a shaft mounted thereon, a cutting bed, a spindle, connectionsbetween the spindle and shaft for moving the spindle vertically, apresser column surrounding said spindle, collars on said spindle at topand bottom thereof between which the presser column is confined to causesaid column tomove In testimony whereof, I have signed my verticallyWith and permit rotative movename to this specification, in the presence10 ment on said spinldle, a Presser arm carried of tWo subscribingWitnesses.

by the presser co umn, and means permitting free turning movement of thepresser WVILLIAM STEWART" arm to operative position and acting to au-Witnesses:

tomatically turn the presser arm to inoper- WILLIAM J. BRENNAN,

ative position. REDFIELD H. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

